Piston ring



Oct. 2, 1951 H. P. PHILLIPS PISTON RING Filed Jan. 6, 1947 INVENTOR.

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Patented Oct. 2, 1951 f 4 PISTON RING Harold P. Phillips, Hastings, Mich., assigner to Hastings Manufacturing Company, Hastings, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January 6, 1947, Serial No. 720,461

11 Claims.

This invention relatesto improvements in piston rings.

The main objects of the invention are:

First, to provide a piston ring element formed entirely of ductile metal which can be readily and economically fabricated and is not likely to be broken or distorted in use. l

Second, to provide a piston ring element which efficiently functions as a compression ring and `which may be readily fabricated from an integral ductile sheet metal ribbon-like member by folding the same into a plurality of folds or plies extending the full length of the element.

Third, to provide a piston ring element of the type above described which is adapted` by a bel- `lows-.like action to exert pressure from the inner peripheral wall of a piston ring groove to a cylinder wall. l

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description Atofollovv. The invention is pointed out and defined in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are 'illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary section of piston rings embodying the invention installed in assembled relation to a piston and cylinder, the piston and veach ring element constituting a different embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a view simliar to that of Fig. 1 showing another embodiment of a piston ring assem- Fig. 9 is a plan View of a ring element of Fig. l.

The ring elements of the present application are in respect to the general method of forming the same somewhat similar to those disclosed in Patent No. 2,404,862, in which the ring elements are formed of a flat strip or ribbon of ductile steel or other metal folded longitudinally upon itself into a plurality of integrally connected folds or plies and coiled edgewise into ring shape.

In considering the accompanying drawing, it should be borne in mind that no attempt has been made to show the parts in their relative proportion or where associated with a piston and cylinder to show the clearances and relative dimensions.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, I represents a cylinder wall and 2 a cooperating piston having piston ring` grooves 3 and 4 therein. Disposed in the grooves are ring elements, designated generally by the numeral 5, formed of a fiat strip oiyribbon of ductile steel or other metal folded longitudinally upon itself into a plurality of integrally connected `superimposed plies of the shape as shown in cross section in Fig. l. The folded strip is coiled edgewise into a generally circular shape as shown in Fig. 9 to' constitute an expansible split ring element. The relatively thin strip or ribbon of ductile metal is bent to provide the horizontal disposed ring side members B and 'I for engaging the upper and lower walls respectively of the ring groove 3, and is bent to provide an intermediate loop-like or folded-over member 8 with the connecting portion or bight 9 thereof disposed generally ver- 4tically and between the inner edge portions of vthe side members 6 and 1 to support the same in spaced relation for engagement with the uplper and lower walls of the ring groove :3. The cuter edge portions of the arms or side members I0 of the loop-like member 8 are bent towards each other into side by side relation to provide the parallel abutting portions Il which at their outer edges are bent axially away from each other to provide the vertical cylinder wall `engaging portions I2 integrally connected with the side members 6 and 1. The cylinder wall engaging vportions I2 are in end abutting relation and securely support the outer edges of the side members E and 'I in spaced relation for engage? ment with the upper and lower walls of the ring "groove 3. Itwill be noted by reference to Fig. l

in cross section by suitable folding rollers which arenot illustrated as they form no part of this invention. In the upper ring groove of the embodiment of Fig. 1, the ring element 5 is engaged byA a conventional expander ring I3. This eX- pander is preferably of cast iron as steel is likely to become annealed and lose its tension.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the ribbon or strip of ductile metal is bent to provide the side members I4 and I 5 and the loop-like or folded over member I6 intermediate the side members. The bight I'I of the loop-like member I6 is vertically disposed between the :outeredges ofthe side members I4 and I5 to se'- I9 and are then .bent axially away from each other br'bvidibgtbe substantially vertically leigtending"`prtio`ns`29 integrally connected to the inner edges of the side members I4 and I5 to securely support these inner edges in spaced rela- I5 are bent axially towards each other toprovide the cylinder wall engagingV portiofnsf22 which are in end abutting relation to each other andk in side abutting relation to the connecting por:A tion or bight I1 of theficent'rally disposed looplikememb'er I6. 'Thering?'el'errier'vt offlige' is otherwise similar vtoth'at-"of the embodim t' of 2. f1, 4. L; I.. 'ji In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the strip or ribbon' ofductile metal isb'er'itftoprovid outer and innerV verticallyextendingf members 2 i an 24 andan intermediate series ofvertically extending loopv-lile'onfolded members 2.5." The outer vertical member 23 constitutesacylinder vwall engaging member eiii ille iiiiierilieliiibei 25 eli.- gages the inner peripheral wall of thering 'groove 3 and transmits pressure' from said inner peripheral wall of the ringgroove and the series of loops 25 and cylinder wall engaging 'member 23 to the cylinder 'wall' I. 'The loops orfolded members 25 are disposed in a bellows-'like formation" and transmit pressureA withA Iay bellowslllike Y action from'thev inner vertical wall 24 to the outer cylinder "wall engaging member 23. The connectingportions 2 6 at' the opposite ends of the loops 25 yengagethe upper'andlower walls'of the ring groove 3.-V Each bight or connecting portion 2510i a loop 25 on each s ide of the ringelement extends continuously in -a planethe full length of the ring v'element to provide continuousV engagement with 'a sidewall of the ring'igroove throughout the length' of thefring-eleinentif to 'provide a verticalcylinderwallengaging' ineinber 21- which is bsnt'radiuyinwardiyfatitsebe i per and lower edges toA provide tlieiendi'portins 28 which are VIcoentaxiallyito'vvardseach other 'to provide the vertical' portions""29 in skidej abutting relation to the'loylinderfwallien 'ging'f'rne ting relation to the verticaly portions 23. y In'the embodirneritoi' the invention shown in Eig v6, thestrip or Aribbon `o`f`ductile metal' is bent to provide" avertial cylinder wallengaging 'meni-V eerie@ eleeetetlie' edges thereof eel e'SjiiQi horizontal upper side members 3B and 31 in end abutting relation, a lower side member 38 and diagonally disposed bracing members 39 and 40 extending from the abutting ends of the upper side .members 36 and 31 to the opposite edges of the lower side member 38. 'I'he upper side members 3.6 and 31 eneagethe upper Weill 0f a ring groove,` and the lower nside member 38 engages theV lower wall of the ring groove. The edges of the lower side member supportingly engage the lower portions of the cylinder wall engaging member 34 and the inner peripheral member 35.

jIfhe members 38, 39 and 40 together constitute a loop-like orfolded over member disposed be- .tween the cylinder'iwall engaging member 34 and the inner peripheral member 35, and the member" 38 'constitutes v'the bight or connecting portion'f 'the loop-like `member.

In the embodiment ""'of Fig. '7, the ribbon of metal is bent to provide the vertical cylinder wall engaging member 4I, the vertical inner peripheral member 42 'and the intermediate looplike or folded member '43. 'The Vbight 44"of"'the loop `13 'constitutes' Ythe upper side rr'ier'riber -of the ring element. The s ide"members 45"'and 46"'of the loop 43 are bent"towards"eachV other'into supporting `engagements'vs/itheacil'l "otherat 41 and Vthen ='exterrdradially kaway 'from each other to provide -the'zhorigontany aligned side niembers 48"and 49 for engagement'with"the l` Wall of 'al ririggroovei"Y "l i Y In the embodiment of Fig. t?, the ribbon of ductile.steell is bent to" provide theuppei"l and lower side-members suene; sil-andthe inter ediate'c'onnecting' `por'tlion"52` whichi's b Y dially outwardly'to'provide a rib-like mein v e Split. eeeiireri rive elementY 54 .isdisjpe'sel'bi. eeiiV *lie eide meliilieieV .5!! eiidi ieeiipeferi llieiii iiieiiaced. rele ieri The rib-like me. and the `cast"i1on"ringv eleme 4 erigirse eeelletlier- "Iii eee' 'f' the em. odimenie 0f.. the. inyeiiiieii shown' and described; itsbould be botdfi at eeeh ef- .ilie eppeeiie. eide Well pertieneef the iiiiis elemeilt ee iS eemmeii iiieQIPreSSii rines. extends continuously plane the full length ef lille. fille' elerleiit .le Provide eeiitiriueue eilgesemeriii with the. upper eetl ieri/eneide walisgef the ringgroove throughout the length ofthe Ting, @16.11.16.119

In the various embodiments ofthe ring element of ductile metal it will'be noted"that"`'io part of thering"elem'ent is""cutiaway,witli he result that theelement'hasuniform strength'aid tension'fr'bm endrdei'ii "'Itisiiqt subies 't9 breakage or iikeiy to beipermannuy'dist manipmatins' tb' irista'u'the readily. beiiii'er Sheeed. .ie present e reieti.. "1y sharp edge to thecylinder wal and at the'same tl e iliefeylillde'rlwell eiifsesliieme issue.- te elisleiiervilireteiii'iiee- I Y [have illustr'atedfand described'practical ern bodinients ofV 'tbs' inventibn. Ifnay'ribt si.

tempted to illustrate or Adescribe other embodj- `ments C?? adaptaffpns it SIQelQl/@d this. dis.-

Qlfsllle Will eilelile tlieee skilled infihe art to embodyor adapt the invention as'may be desired Hell/lng, thus described my invention, What'I claim e(as. new andidesire to Vsercuremb'y Letters Pat/ent, is: Y

l. A split resilient piston ring element formedV oran integral ductile sheet man ribbon-like .member folded to provide parallel upper and 4like member projecting radially outwardly and into abutting side by side relation adjacent their 4outer edges, said outer edges being provided with portions projecting axially away from each other and integrally connected to the outer edges of the side walls` to supportingly retain the same in spaced relation, said axially projecting por- .tions being disposed at rightangles to the planes of the side walls and constituting cylinder wall engaging members.

`2. A split resilient piston ring element formed of an integral ductile sheet metal ribbon-like member folded to provide parallel upper and lower side walls for engaging the upper and lower walls of a piston ring groove, and to provide a loop-like member intermediate said side walls, the bight of said loop-like member being disposed between the inner. edge portions of said side walls and supportingly retaining the same in spaced relation, the side members of the looplike member projecting radially outwardly and into abutting side by side relation adjacent their outer edges, said outer edges being provided with portions projecting axially away from each other and integrally connected to the outer edges of the side walls to supportingly retain the same in spaced relation, said axially projecting portions constituting cylinder Wall engaging members. f

3. A split resilient piston ring element formed of an integral ductile sheet metal ribbon-like member folded to provide parallel side walls for engaging the upper and lower walls of a piston ring groove and to provide a loop-like member having side members and an axially disposed connecting portion, said connecting portion being dispsed at right angles to the planes of the side walls and supportingly retaining the outer edge portions of the side walls in spaced relation, said side members projecting radially inwardly from the connection portion, the inner edge portions of said side members being in side by side abutting relation and provided with portions projecting axially away from each other and integrally connected to the inner edges of the side walls and supportingly retaining the inner edges of the side walls in spaced relation.

4. A split resilient piston ring element formed of an integral ductile sheet metal ribbon-like member folded to provide parallel side Walls for engaging the upper and lower Walls of a piston ring groove and to provide a loop-like member having side members and an axially disposed connecting portion, said connecting portion being disposed at right angles to the planes of the side walls and supportingly retaining the outer edge portions of the side walls in spaced relation,

said side members projecting radially from thel connection portion, the inner edge portions of said side members being provided with portions projecting axially away from each other and integrally connected to the inner edges of the side walls and supportingly retaining the inner edges of the side walls in spaced relation.

5. A split resilient piston ring element formed of an integral ductile sheet metal ribbon-like member folded to provide parallel side walls for engaging the upper and lower walls of a piston ring groove and to provide a looplike member having side members and an axially disposed connecting portion, said connecting portion being disposed at right angles to theplanes of the side walls and supportingly retaining the outer edge portions of the side walls in spaced relation, said side members projecting radially inl'wardly from the lconnection portion, the inner edge portions of said side members being in side by side abutting relation and provided with portions projecting axially away from each other and integrally connected to the inner edges of the side walls and supportingly retaining the inner edges of the side Walls in spaced relation, the outer edges of the side walls having portions extending axially towards each other into end abutting relation, the last named axially projecting portions constituting cylinder wall engaging members. 6. A split resilient piston ring element formed of an integral ductile sheet metal ribbonflike member coiled to a ring-like shape and bendably folded along lines extending longitudinally of the member to provide concentric outer and inner walls. and to provide loop-like members concentric to and intermediate said inner and `outer walls, the outer wall constituting ya cylinder Wall engaging member and the inner wall being disposed for engagement with the inner peripheral wall of a `piston ring groove, the bights of the loop-like members being disposed to engage the opposite side walls of a` piston ring groove, said loop-like members being of a bellows-like formation and disposed to transmit pressure from the inner wall to the Aouter wall with a bellows-like action.A p

'Il A split resilient piston ring element formed of an integral ductile sheet metal ribbon-like member bendably folded along lines extending longitudinally of the member to provide concentric outer and inner walls, and to provide loop-like members concentric to and intermediate said inner and outer Walls, the outer Wall constituting a cylinder wall engaging member, the bights of the loop-like members being disposed to engage the opposite side Walls 0f a piston ring groove.

8. A split resilient piston ring element formed of an integral ductile sheet metal ribbon-like member folded to provide a wall for engaging `a cylinder throughout substantially the axial dimensions of the ring element, axially spaced and oppositely disposed side wall portions to engage the opposite side walls of a piston ring groove, and a connecting portion integral with the side wall portions for supporting said side wall portions in spaced relation at a distance substantially radially inwardly from said cylinder engaging wall, each of said oppositely disposed side wall portions being radially continuous from the inner periphery of the ring element to closely adjacent said cylinder engaging wall, each oppositely disposed side Wall portion extending continuously in a plane the full length of the ring element to provide continuous engagement with a side wall of the ring groove throughout the length of the ring element, the sheet metal ribbon-like member being integrally continuous between the opposite longitudinal edges of the member and being coiled to a ring-like shape and bendably folded along lines extending longitudinally of the ribbon-like member to provide said ,cylinder engaging .Walt axially spaced vside dcnec'ting DOftiOIS for SupwallV portions in .spaced relation. ielnt piston ring A`elerlent formed l, tegralmductile".sheet metal vribbon-like er folded ;to vprovide a wall for engaging a t throughout substantially the axial disions of .ring element, axially spaced doipositely ,disposed Vside wall portionsY to age .thev opposite .side .walls of a piston ring e, and .a connecting .portion integral with all'portions -for supporting vsaid -side .f allwportions in spaced relation -at a distance ntiallyradially inwardly from said cylinder gy wall,V the sheet `metalribbon-like mem- !e .longitudinal edges of the member and ,coilel'fto a'ring-like shape and bendably ed along .lines extending longitudinally of bo like member to provide said cylinder .v l ing wall, axially spaced side wall portions arid connecting Vportions for supporting the side -wall .portions in spaced relation.

e Asplit resilient piston vring element formed entiretyof. `an integral ductile sheet-metal wbbpn-like memberfolded to .provide opposed parallel walls spaced the same distance `from other. f throughout the circumferencel ofthe y.element 'and folded to .provide a loop-like 11s, h lpop-lik member having spaced side and ahportion connecting said side mbers the side members .adjacent the cont` rtion being spaced from each other,

emberfQdis'posedbetween said opposed parallel @he co necting. portion Vengagingly retaining said lntegrally continuous between the opother .inw "engagement with v4@ach .other v@116151 .bracingly supporting said edges in Vspaced Yrela-v including oppositely disposed side walls to Aen.-Y

gage .the opposite side walls of a piston ring v groove and a wall for engaging a cylinder throughout substantially the axial distance between said side walls, said ring elementV in its entirety being formed of Yan integral `ductile 'i sheet-metal ribbon-,like member bendably folded HAROLD P. PHILLIPS. REFERENCES CITED The `following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name V VDate 1,445,020 JOhDSOn Feb. 13, 1923 2,239,376 'Smith Apr. 22, 1941 273,691 Bowers L Feb. 17, 1942 2,317,589 Bauer Apr. 27, 1943 2,404,862 Phillips July 30, 1946 FOREIGNPATENTS Y Number ,Country Y Date 484,610 Germany Oct. 22, 1929 182,790 Switzerland Feb. 29,1936 855,790 France May 20, 19.40 

